Pitch-lowering device for musical instruments



Nov. 17, 1925- M. B. HOWARD PITCH LOWERING DEVICE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Nov. 12. 1924 "-QIIII Fig '5 1N GEN T UR MB.HL7VVARU Patented Nov. 7, 1925.

UNITED STATES MOSES BERTRAND HOWARD, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PITCH-LOWER-ING DEVICE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed November 12, 1924. Serial No. 749,443.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Moses BERTRAND HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pitch-Lowering Devices for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification. V

The present invention resides in the provision ofa simplyconstructed, inexpensive and easily attachable device for adjusting the tonal pitch of Saxophones, clarinets, oboes, bassoons and other reed instruments.

One of the purposes of the invention is to provide ameans whereby a device of the character described may be readily and easily attached and anchored in the barrels of saxophones, clarinets or other reed instruments, which means is in theform of a spring hook capable of securely fastening the device in instruments of different sizes a-nd'construction and will hold the device against being dislodged during the operation and manipulation of the instrument.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a pitch lowering device of the character described which embodies a 'fiexible cord or like non-vibratory element having at one end the attaching hook providing for reliably securing the flexible element in position to adjust the tonal pitch of the instrument A further purpose of the invention is to provide a pitch changing device of the character described wherein by using non-vibratory, flexible elements or cords of diflerent diameters, the extent of lowering of the pitch may be varied as desired.

A still further purpose of the invention is to provide a pitch lowering device of the character described which will not in any way interfere with the operation of assembling, disassembling, adjusting or manipulating the instrument to which it is attached.

Vith the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the ac com panying drawing, and Set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages'of the lnvention.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a clarinet showing the device of my invention as it will appear in use in connection with said instrument.

Fig. 2 represents a similar view of a saxophone showing the device of the invention as when in use.

Fig. 3 represents an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the device of the invention particularly illustrating the attaching or anchoring hook.

Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of the hook as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 represents a fragmentary side elevation of the other end of the flexible element of the device.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing comprises a non-vibratory flexible element 1, preferably consisting of a" cord made of silk or other material, one end of which is provided with a ferrule or tip 2, to prevent unravelling and the other end of which carries an attaching hook 3, providing for securing of the cord to the musical instrument, which as shown in Fig. 1, under the designation A, comprises a clarinet and in Fig. 2, under the designation B, a saxophone.

The cord is placed in the barrel of the musical instrument after the mouth piece C, is removed, and is preferably of a length substantially equal to the length of the barrel of the instrument from the point where the mouth piece is attached to the point Where the bell of the instrument commences.

The attaching means 3 is formed of a single piece of resilient wire doubled to provide crossed divergent arms 4: and 5, the ends of which are provided with right angular hook portions 6 and 7. In fastening this spring hook to the cord, the wire of which the hook is formed is inserted through the c a sho n a .8 F g 3, at a p int rear' wardly of the end of the cord, the end of the cord being knotted or wound with thread or sewed as at 9 so as to prevent unravelling, and to prevent pulling out of the wire. A ferrule 10 is slipped over the cord before the wire is inserted. The wire is bent together and the ferrule then moved over the wire and pressed or clamped in place and provides straight parallel portions 11. The wire is then bent so that it will cross as at 12, and provide the divergent arms 4 and 5. Adjacent their outer ends these arms are bent to provide preferably straight parallel portions 13 so as to engage the cylindrical or nearly cylindrical portion of the instrument as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

lVhen the cord is dropped into the barrel of the instrument the operator pushes the device 3 downward, causing the arms l and 5 to yieldingly move towards one another tions 13 of the arms 4 and 5 will grip against the walls of the bore of the instrument and the portions 6 and 7 engaging the parts l t and 15 of the instrument will prevent the flexible element from dropping or being dislodged out of position during operation of the instrument.

The mouth piece C, of the clarinet, in-

telescoping into the barrel of the clarinet,

U will engage upon the hook portions 6 and 7 and provide for a secure fastemng of the device in place. In the case of the saxophone, the mouth piece C, will slip over the cork- 15, without contacting with the hooks 6 and 7, said portions being short and arranged so that they will not project beyond the periphery of the cork and interfere with the slipping of the mouth piece of the saxophone into position. The presence of the flexible non-vibratory cord in the barrel of a musical instrument of either type shown. or of the type with which the invention may be used, will serve to lower the pitch of the instrument.

By using cords of different diameters,

the lowering of the pitch may be varied, the

pitch lowering as the diameter of the cord 1s increased.

The flexlble pitch lowering elementm the present instance is a fibre cord and is non-- that a flexible element be provided which will not vibrate to an extent such that would interfere with the true qualities of the tones but will lessen the vibrations and lower the pitch. The cross sectional shape ofthe cord or flexible element may be varied as desired although in the present instance the cord is shown as being generally cylindrical in cross section.

The specialv attaching hook is adjustable to the extent that it makes possible installation of the device in instruments having large and small bores without necessitating changing the hook. The hook will serve to anchor the pitch reducingcord in the small bore-of an oboe as well as in the larger bores of saxophones or clarinets or any other instruments having large bores.

I claim:

1. A device for adjusting the tonal pitch of clarinets, saxophones and other reed instruments comprising a flexible non-vibrating element adapted to be placed in the barrel of a musical instrument such as defined and means for fastening said element in thebarrel of the instrument.

2. A device for adjusting the tonal pitch of clarinets, saxophones and other reed instruments comprising a: non-vibratory member adapted to be placed within and extending lengthwise of the barrel of the instrument and means for securing said member within the barrel of the instrument.

3. A device for adjusting the tonal pitch of clarinets, saxophones and other reed in struments comprising a non-vibratory member adapted to be placed within and extending lengthwise of the barrel of the instrru ment and a hook for securing the member within. the barrel of the instrument, which hook is attached to one, endof said member.

4. A device for adjusting the tonal pitch of clarinets, saxophones and other reed instruments comprising an elongated; non vibratory member adaptedto extend into the barrel of a reed instrument such as defined andmeans attachedto one end of said memher for anchoring said end within the barrel of the musical instrument.

A device for adjusting the tonal pitch of clarinets, saxophones and other reed instruments comprising an. elongated non-vibratory element adapted. to extend. lengthwise of the barrel of said musical instrument, divergent resilient arms attached to one end of said element and adapted to engage oppos'ite sides of the barrel of the instrument and hook portions on the ends of said arms adapted to engage the barrel of the instrument.

(3. A device for adjustingrthe tonal pitch of clarinets, saxophones and other reed instruments comprising a non-vibratory elongated member adapted to extend lengthwise of the barrel of a musical instrument such struments comprising an elongated flexible element adapted to extend along and interiorly of the barrel of a musical instrument of the type above referred to and means at one end of said member adapted to hook over an extremity of the barrel of said instrument.

MOSES BERTRAND HOVARD. 

